Tribute 08 Wrap
Up

More than 30 years
after the war’s end, veterans and their families gathered
at Civic Square, and then marched in their old unit groups
to a welcome many felt had been denied them when they first
returned.

At Parliament they were welcomed by Prime
Minister Helen Clark with a whakanoa, or ritual cleansing
ceremony.

Thousands of onlookers clapped and cheered as
the 3000 veterans and their families, many wearing medals
and a red ANZAC poppy on their chest, paraded along Lambton
Quay.

Wellington district police communications officer
Kaye Calder said a small group of about eight peace
protesters opposed the march, but they were silent and
well-behaved.

Ms Clark made a formal apology for the
government’s failure to recognise Vietnam veterans’
loyal service in the name of New Zealand and their suffering
in a toxic environment.

She said the whakanoa’s
traditional purpose was to lift the tapu acquired by
warriors who had gone to war.

This never occurred when the
soldiers returned from Vietnam and the ceremony was to put
that right.

Opposition Leader John Key acknowledged the
service of all veterans living and dead.

He especially
stressed the importance of remembering soldiers who did not
return from Vietnam.

Tribute08 chairman Chris Mullane
accepted the government’s apology on behalf of all
veterans and said they believed it to be sincere and
underpinned by action.

He compared the difference between
Saturday’s welcome and that which occurred when veterans
first returned home.

“We came here [after the war], but
the doors were shut.

“Today the doors are wide
open.”

Veterans and family members at the event said
that things had now changed for the better.

Rodney
Edwards, who went to Vietnam in 1965 with the 161 Battery,
said that when he returned home it felt like it was not my
land anymore.

He said he felt differently now.

“I
emotionally feel at peace now.

“This is my country and I
went [to war] for it.”

Vietnam veteran John 'Scoff'
Cootes’ daughter, “JJ” said previously her father
didn't like to talk about the war, but now the stories were
slowly starting to emerge.

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